MADNESS THAT HAS CRIPPLED FARMING

Chronicle (Levin), 27 June 1946, Page 2

MADNESS THAT HAS CRIPPLED FARMING

-Press Association

. : — HIGH TAXATION AND FORTYHOUR WEEK

Bv Telegrayh-

WELLINGTON, June 26. "Unfortunately at a lime rvhen maximum production was never so urgently needed, there are certain factors which have and will continue to have a rcstricting elfect," said the chairman of the National Dairy Fcderation, Mr. F. Parsons, of Patea, when addrcssing the annual confercnce of tlie associatiou today. ' 4 These f actors are high taxation, the 40-hour week, lahour, housing shortages and the latest sharemilking conditions, ' ' said Mr. Parsons. He added that at the eiul of March the overall reduction of oulput butterfat was 1110 re than 8 per cent au4 it was likely this reduction would contiiiuc. Under existiug taxation farmers would uot be encouraged to extend tlieir output. Tlie samo situatiou had ariseu throughout commerce and industry. I-Ie was not opposed to the 40-hour week but to have brought it in when it was, could. only t\)C described as sheer madness. ' It" was alreadv havrng-°am effect 011 production and it was obvious it would become incroasingly dithcult to get work done on Baturdays. Without adeqiiate housing it was difticult to attract rcliablc stcady workers to dairy farms and factories. The new sharemilking conditions were sucli that fariners were avoiding sharemilking if tkey could possibly do so. Mr. Parsons favoured encouragemeut of secbndary industrics but not at the expeuse of the primarv industrics noi at the cost of a restrictiou of imports from Britain. 44 But let's forget all our troubles. Let's forget the 40-hour week and go forward to greater production," said Mr. Parsons. "The people of Britain saved us. Let us now save them by giving them all the food they want. ' '